Ducts In Attic Or Crawl Space

Knowing the disadvantages of attic install and the crawl space install.

Ducts in attic or crawl space.

In the winter a crawl space can be significantly colder than the living spaces of your home. This means that like an attic or unfinished basement you don t heat and cool it. See the article i linked to for more details. Seal supply boxes with mastic.

While the attic install isn t ideal it beats the problems that come with ducts. Large gaps between duct sections provide an exit point for the heated and cooled air before it has a chance to reach the vents in your rooms. That same ac system that could never cool your bedrooms now with a sealed and insulated attic is providing supply airflow temperatures on par with the same unit located under a house. Now your sealed and insulated attic and your hvac duct system is protected from extreme temperatures like your crawlspace or basement.

And you win big time. I lowered soffits around room perimeters. The hot air leaves your furnace at the desired temperature. You can get the air handler and ducts into conditioned space in several ways without needing a basement or crawl space.

Ii lowered ceilings in hallways. The majority of ducts are installed in unconditioned attic spaces and crawl spaces where they are out of sight. Insulate and air seal the floor with open cell foam put ductwork and mechanicals in the attic install a radiant barrier and mastic seal the ducts. Strap ducts out of insulation with 3 ductstraps per specifications.

Ceiling diffusers can help route vents to alternative locations avoiding lengths of ductwork. The crawl space is an unconditioned space. I vote for the attic. Iii special trusses that create space below the unconditioned attic.

Ductwork can eat into living space so innovative space saving features like squeeze elbows are in demand.